Enneapterygius velatus is a new species of triplefin recently described from Japan. Coming from the deep waters of the Ryukyu Islands, the holotypes for this new fish was collected at 55 meters (180 feet) deep but it has been photographed as shallow as 30m/100ft. This deepwater triplefin is remarkable for having an extremely long first dorsal fin which is further adorned with additional extensions and filaments.
Triplefins are a very interesting group of blennioid fishes which are all but absent in the aquarium hobby. Their small size, intricate camouflage and bright colored males of some species would make them a great aquarium inhabitant, and it should be ‘manageable’ to breed them in captivity. [Ichtyo. Research]
